BJP chief Rajnath Singh in U.S. on week-long visit

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Last Updated: Sun, Jul 21, 2013 05:00 hrs

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh is currently on a week-long visit of the United States.

During his visit, Singh is expected to present his party's view on the situation in Afghanistan at a conference, besides meeting a host of lawmakers, business leaders, think tank representatives and noted Indian Americans.

The BJP's chief key-note address is on "India, Afghanistan and Regional Security" which is scheduled for July 23 at the historic Rayburn House Building of the U.S. Capitol, organised by the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS-USA).

The conference will also be addressed among others by former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal, Ajit Doval, former director of the Intelligence Bureau, Rebel Baloch leader Mehran Baloch and Senge Serin, the president of the Institute of Gilgit Baltistan Studies.

The groundwork for the U.S. trip was laid on March 25 when US ambassador to India Nancy J Powell called on Singh to discuss a range of political issues including the issue of foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.

Singh had then conveyed to the US envoy about the security concerns for India in the event of a Taliban-friendly dispensation taking charge of Kabul.

Singh is accompanied by Ananth Kumar, BJP general secretary , Sudhanshu Trivedi, his political aide, and Vijay Jolly, convenor of BJP Overseas Affairs. RSS national executive member Ram Madhav is said to have played a key role in fixing his appointments in the U.S.

Chicago businessman Shalabh Kumar will be host to some of Singh's dinner engagements.

In New York, Singh is scheduled to address the Indian American community at an event organised by TV Asia channel.